North Korea’s Lazarus Group Now Holds More Bitcoin Than Tesla

North Korea-linked hacking collective Lazarus Group now holds more Bitcoin (BTC) than electric vehicle giant Tesla, according to blockchain analytics platform Arkham Intelligence. The notorious group currently possesses 13,441 BTC valued at approximately $1.14 billion—16% more than Tesla’s 11,509 BTC.

Tesla, led by Elon Musk, bought its Bitcoin stash four years ago and has been holding it since, ranking it among the top corporate holders of the cryptocurrency. However, Lazarus Group has recently surpassed the carmaker following a series of high-profile cyberattacks.

In a major incident last month, Lazarus reportedly hacked crypto exchange Bybit, stealing $1.4 billion in Ether (ETH). A significant portion of the stolen funds has since been converted into Bitcoin and dispersed across 9,117 wallets, as confirmed by Bybit CEO Ben Zhou.

This development highlights the growing concern around state-sponsored cybercrime and crypto asset laundering. At the same time, it underscores the growing strategic value of Bitcoin, not just among corporations but also among government adversaries.

The U.S. government currently holds 198,109 BTC—worth over $16 billion—seized through various enforcement actions. Former President Donald Trump recently announced plans to designate these holdings as a national strategic reserve. He also pledged to make the United States the “undisputed Bitcoin superpower,” advocating for greater BTC adoption by corporations and governments alike.

With Lazarus now surpassing a high-profile corporate player like Tesla, this could accelerate discussions around Bitcoin’s role in geopolitics, cybersecurity, and corporate finance. As BTC continues to gain traction, it remains to be seen how U.S. companies will respond to being outpaced by a state-backed hacking group.